MGA News Summer 2001

Consultant Senior Lecturer in Neurology
Frenchay Hospital
Bristol

Well I hope that by the time you read this we are all basking in warm sunshine wondering where we hid our shorts and sun hat – but that is probably wishful thinking. I’m beginning to wonder if future generations are going to be born wearing wellies and with umbrellas sticking out of their heads!

Anyway, a quick update on how the research is going. As I mentioned in my last letter, I am currently planning a large study of MG in the South West, which will not only ask how MG affects you in your every day life but will also ask a lot of questions about where you grew up, where you went to school, whether you had all the normal childhood infections, what other conditions that you suffer from and many more questions about you and your environment. This is not just me being nosey – by comparing the answers that you give with those given by other people who are a similar age and live in the same place but who do not have MG, we are hoping that we can identify some factors that either protect or predispose towards the disease. Of course anything that comes out of this study will have to be looked into in great depth to make sure that it is not a red herring, but it is a start!

I was wondering if any of you had had any thoughts about what might have sparked off your MG and would be interested to hear your ideas. It may have been something from your childhood – there is increasing evidence that what happens to us in the womb and when we are babies may influence the diseases we get as adults! Interesting and plausible suggestions may find their way into the questionnaire!

MGA NEWS Summer 2001

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